BIXEPS Therapy Explained
BIXEPS Therapy Explained: What Happens Inside Your Cells
BIXEPS is a wellness device that applies pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) technology to trigger a process known as magnetic mitohormesis — a mild, beneficial form of stress placed on the mitochondria inside our cells that pushes them to function more efficiently. This matters because every cell in the body relies on mitochondria to produce energy, support movement and growth, and keep oxidative stress (a major driver of premature ageing) in check.
Research supports its effectiveness: BIXEPS has been shown to encourage the formation of new mitochondria, boost myokine output, and raise ATP (cellular energy) production. The end result is greater muscle mass, better-managed inflammation and pain, faster recovery, and improved muscle energy performance — benefits observed in both older adults and physically active individuals.
The Research Behind the Technology
BIXEPS is a patented innovation developed jointly by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and ETH Zurich in Switzerland, the product of years of research into how electromagnetic fields can activate mitochondria within the human body. Most of us learned back in school that mitochondria are the “powerhouse of the cell” — but the real question is what that means for pain relief and muscle recovery.
What Happens Inside the Cell
Mitochondria produce the chemical energy that powers every function in the body. Our lungs and brain cannot survive without oxygen, and in much the same way, the body cannot grow, move, or maintain itself without functioning mitochondria. Nearly every cell type in the body contains them, with red blood cells being the one exception.
Inside muscle tissue specifically, mitochondria are essential for preserving muscle mass and strength. As we age, a decline in skeletal muscle mitochondria contributes to a gradual loss of both — a process referred to as mitochondrial dysfunction.
Research has demonstrated that applying an external magnetic field can stimulate mitochondrial activity in a way that supports recovery. These fields increase mitochondrial respiration just enough to produce a beneficial level of oxidative stress — not all stress on the body is harmful. This controlled stress prompts the mitochondria to adapt positively, becoming more energy-efficient and more resilient against future oxidative damage. Left unchecked, oxidative damage is a leading contributor to poor ageing, tissue degeneration, and general physical breakdown — which is part of why antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries and leafy greens have gained such popularity.
Once mitochondria are activated, their capacity for aerobic energy production improves. This enhances the efficiency of the electron transport chain — the system that manages proton exchange across the cell membrane and is central to ATP production — while also triggering mitochondriogenesis, the creation of new mitochondria, and strengthening long-term muscle energetics (the muscle’s ability to sustain energy output during activities like walking or standing up from a seated position).
Put simply, BIXEPS therapy supports muscle growth and recovery by making the body’s mitochondria-building and ATP-regulating processes more efficient.
In 2022, QuantumTX ran a study examining how its proprietary BIXEPS technology affected users’ skeletal muscle mass (SMM). Across the study, 35 participants underwent BIXEPS sessions once or twice weekly, with each session lasting 10 minutes.
So why 10 minutes? Further research indicates that a 10-minute session produces the strongest cellular response, particularly when sustained over roughly 12 weeks. AXW Wellness Centre has since updated its protocol so that each leg now receives its own 10-minute session, bringing the total session time to 20 minutes — a change that has produced noticeably better results for our clients across Malaysia.
The Role of Myokines
One of the standout advantages of BIXEPS therapy in rehabilitation settings is its ability to raise myokine levels. Myokines are proteins released by skeletal muscle during contraction, most commonly through exercise. They play a wide-reaching role in health, influencing metabolism, fat tissue, liver function, brain health, and gut health. While research into their full effects is still developing, their importance is well established.
Some of the additional benefits linked to myokine activity that BIXEPS supports include:
Managing Inflammation for Faster Recovery
The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week (or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, such as running), alongside two strength-training sessions. This level of activity boosts the disease-fighting white blood cells in the body and prompts muscles to release anti-inflammatory compounds such as Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and Interleukin-10, which help prevent the immune system’s inflammatory response from overreacting.
Studies indicate that the magnetic mitohormesis triggered by BIXEPS raises these same anti-inflammatory myokine levels, pointing to its potential use in managing the kind of inflammation associated with heightened pain and fatigue.
Supporting Training Performance and Energy Output
Exercise causes muscles to contract and release myokines that both encourage regeneration and help prevent breakdown. Myokines tied to muscle mass regulation — including Myostatin, Irisin, Interleukin-15, and Decorin — have been shown to support muscle growth while limiting muscle loss. Others, such as Myonectin and Fibroblast Growth Factor 21, help regulate muscle mass while also influencing mitochondrial health and the energy available for both performance and recovery.
Pilot research on BIXEPS therapy found that, alongside standard rehabilitation, 18 patients recovering from ACL-repair surgery showed higher ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr) levels in their muscles after 16 weeks of one weekly 10-minute BIXEPS session applied to the operated leg. Separately, elite cyclists who received BIXEPS sessions twice weekly over 14 weeks showed improved resistance to fatigue, a reversal of overtraining effects, and sustained power output gains of 3–5%. Both athletes and coaches noted faster recovery between training sessions and greater resistance to fatigue during training itself.
To experience BIXEPS therapy for yourself, book an initial consultation and complimentary first session at AXW Wellness Centre, Malaysia.